--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: God operates by different rules of time…" description: "\"God operates by different rules of time and space. And God's infinite greatness, which we would expect to diminish us, actually makes possible the very..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71b/philip-yancey-840_ability_god-operates-by-different-rules-of-time_172829.jpg" --- # God operates by different rules of time and space. And… ![“God operates by different rules of time and space. And God's infinite greatness, which we would expect to diminish us, actually makes possible the very closeness that we desire. A God unbound by our rules of time has the ability to invest in every person on earth. God has, quite literally, all the…” quote by Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71b/philip-yancey-840_ability_god-operates-by-different-rules-of-time_172829.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71b/philip-yancey-840_ability_god-operates-by-different-rules-of-time_172829.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71b/philip-yancey-840_ability_god-operates-by-different-rules-of-time_172829.jpg) > “God operates by different rules of time and space. And God's infinite greatness, which we would expect to diminish us, actually makes possible the very closeness that we desire. A God unbound by our rules of time has the ability to invest in every person on earth. God has, quite literally, all the time in the world for each one of us.” [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. God’s timeless nature allows infinite attention to each person, making divine closeness possible despite our limited perception. **In simple terms:** God’s timelessness lets Him be close to everyone. Key Takeaway Trust in divine presence. Themes spirituality divinity time humanity Mood contemplative reverent Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - theology - personal crisis - spiritual practice Key Concepts infinite patience personal relationship cosmic perspective Questions to Reflect On - How does believing in a timeless God affect daily life? - What does divine closeness mean for you? A Different Perspective Human concepts of time may limit understanding of divine action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Closeness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closeness/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time and space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-and-space/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [God has, quite literally, all the time in the world for each one of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/god-has-quite-literally-all-the-time-in-the-world-for-each-one-of-us/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [The way God operates is on the basis of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/the-way-god-operates-is-on-the-basis-of-love/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [We must see that God operates not only in us but in others as well. God also operates in our so-called enemies. But these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/we-must-see-that-god-operates-not-only-in-us-but-in-others-as-well/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [I think one of the things we've got to look out for is human beings claiming that they know how God operates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/i-think-one-of-the-things-we-ve-got-to-look-out-for-is-human-beings/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [“One of the great truths of the Bible is that whenever God gets ready to do anything in the earth, He always works through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-munroe/one-of-the-great-truths-of-the-bible-is-that-whenever-god-gets-ready/) [Myles Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-munroe/) > [“If we, who are finite, contingent, created beings, have got God completely figured out, it makes it seem likely that we invented him...If I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-ordway/if-we-who-are-finite-contingent-created-beings-have-got-god/) [Holly Ordway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-ordway/) > [God operates the world by covenants. Those covenants have specific jurisdictions and responsibilities, not to be infringed upon by another covenant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/god-operates-the-world-by-covenants-those-covenants-have-specific/) [Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/) > [God operates through us. But we are made to operate through God as well, and to operate though Him first. He is the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-operates-through-us-but-we-are-made-to-operate-through-god-as/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's a sort of curious phenomenon that God is somehow not quite as nice as the devil; the devil doesn't punish you for behaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-bronowski/it-s-a-sort-of-curious-phenomenon-that-god-is-somehow-not-quite-as/) [Jacob Bronowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-bronowski/) > [It is one thing to believe in God; it is quite another to believe God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-one-thing-to-believe-in-god-it-is-quite-another-to-believe-god/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [After the events of the 20th century, God, quite reasonably, left Europe. But He's still here in the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/after-the-events-of-the-20th-century-god-quite-reasonably-left-europe/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Oh, save me God, but not quite yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-du-plessix-gray/oh-save-me-god-but-not-quite-yet/) [Francine du Plessix Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-du-plessix-gray/) > [I have not the courage to search through books for beautiful prayers. . . Unable either to say them all or choose between them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/therese-of-lisieux/i-have-not-the-courage-to-search-through-books-for-beautiful-prayers/) [Therese of Lisieux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/therese-of-lisieux/) > [The idea of a personal God is quite alien to me and seems even naïve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-idea-of-a-personal-god-is-quite-alien-to-me-and-seems-even-na-ve/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“He is one of those whom God has not quite finished.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/he-is-one-of-those-whom-god-has-not-quite-finished/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) ## More by Philip Yancey > [“God reproduces and lives out His image in millions of ordinary people like us. It is a supreme mystery. We are called to bear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/god-reproduces-and-lives-out-his-image-in-millions-of-ordinary-people/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Curiously, the righteous Pharisees had little historical impact, save for a brief time in a remote corner of the Roman Empire. But Jesus' disciples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/curiously-the-righteous-pharisees-had-little-historical-impact-save/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Jesus never met a disease he could not cure, a birth defect he could not reverse, a demon he could not exorcise. But he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/jesus-never-met-a-disease-he-could-not-cure-a-birth-defect-he-could/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Love deems this world worth rescuing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/love-deems-this-world-worth-rescuing/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [People instinctively know the difference between something done with a profit motive and something done with a love motive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/people-instinctively-know-the-difference-between-something-done-with/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [In a nutshell, the Bible from Genesis 3 to Revelation 22 tells the story of a God reckless with desire to get his family back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/in-a-nutshell-the-bible-from-genesis-3-to-revelation-22-tells-the/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [You can know the law by heart without knowing the heart of it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/you-can-know-the-law-by-heart-without-knowing-the-heart-of-it/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [“I have marveled at, and sometimes openly questioned, the self-restraint God has shown throughout history, allowing the Genghis Khans and the Hitlers and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/i-have-marveled-at-and-sometimes-openly-questioned-the-self-restraint/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [C. S. Lewis observed that almost all crimes of Christian history have come about when religion is confused with politics. Politics, which always runs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/c-s-lewis-observed-that-almost-all-crimes-of-christian-history-have/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Having spent time around "sinners" and also around purported saints, I have a hunch why Jesus spent so much time with the former group:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/having-spent-time-around-sinners-and-also-around-purported-saints-i/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [We preach sermons, write books on apologetics, conduct city-wide evangelistic campaigns. For those alienated from the church, that approach no longer has the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/we-preach-sermons-write-books-on-apologetics-conduct-city-wide/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [I begin with confession not in order to feel miserable, rather to call to mind a reality I often ignore. When I acknowledge where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/i-begin-with-confession-not-in-order-to-feel-miserable-rather-to-call/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Jesus reserved his hardest words for the hidden sins of hypocrisy, pride, greed and legalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/jesus-reserved-his-hardest-words-for-the-hidden-sins-of-hypocrisy/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [“What greater gift could Christians give to the world than the forming of a culture that upholds grace and forgiveness?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/what-greater-gift-could-christians-give-to-the-world-than-the-forming/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [“For us who are Christians, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is proof positive that love is stronger than hate, that life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/for-us-who-are-christians-the-death-and-resurrection-of-jesus-christ/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) [Explore all 351 Philip Yancey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "God operates by different rules of time and space. 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